Prince William was reportedly left completely in the dark over last week’s private meeting between King Charles and Prince Harry’s representatives, according to sources cited in multiple UK media outlets.
The informal talks, which took place at an exclusive private members’ club in London, were said to involve the King’s communications secretary and Harry’s head of PR and chief communications officer. Notably, Prince William‘s team was not invited and reportedly only learned of the meeting after it was published in the Sunday newspapers.
“William reading about the meeting in Sunday’s papers will not go down well,” a royal source told The Daily Beast, highlighting the ongoing tension within the senior ranks of the British Royal Family.
According to Mail on Sunday, the meeting near Clarence House was casual in nature, featuring “just drinks” and no formal agenda. Nonetheless, it marks a rare attempt at open communication between the King and his youngest son amid years of strained relations.
A friend of William told the press that any path to reconciliation between the estranged brothers remains unlikely. “William will never, ever forgive Harry for what he has done,” the insider claimed. They added, “Charles is the King; he can do what he likes. But make no mistake: William believes with every fibre of his being that giving Harry and Meghan back any royal imprimatur is a huge mistake.”
While the Prince of Wales has long been described as firm in his stance, the King’s efforts appear more conciliatory. The recent gathering has been described as a “first step towards reconciliation between Harry and his father,” with a source telling Mail on Sunday that “at least it is a step in the right direction.”
They continued: “There’s a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years. Everyone just wants to move on and move forward now. It was finally the right time for the two sides to talk.”
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton were not involved in the talks, and Kensington Palace has yet to issue a comment, despite being contacted by GB News.
The behind-closed-doors nature of the meeting and the lack of inclusion of William’s team underscores the continuing divide not just between the brothers, but within the broader framework of the royal institution.